Alumni News

Mike Callaghan '13 Posts 4th Double-Double of the Year in Win over Trinity after Picking up 1000th Career Point vs. Amherst

Wesleyan used a 13-0 run late in the first half to turn a 14-13 lead into a substantial 27-13 bulge en route to a 66-58 men's basketball NESCAC win over visiting Trinity Sat., Jan, 5. It was the Cardinals' fourth victory over the Bantams in the last five meetings and adjusted the overall long-standing series record to 95-92 in Trinity's favor.

Wesleyan had two players record a double-double in the contest as Mike Callaghan '13 (#44) scored a game-high 16 points along with 11 rebounds while Glen Thomas '14 added 10 points and a game-high 13 caroms. For Callaghan, who had just become the 20th male Wesleyan basketball player to eclipse the 1,000-point barrier for his career, it was his fourth double-double of the season. It was the first for Thomas and third of his career. Two other Cardinals added 11 points to the cause vs. Trinity – Shasha Brown '13 and Avery Robinson '15.

During the 13-0 run that gave Wesleyan control of the contest, Brown started the flurry with a three-pointer at the 9:22 mark and Thomas ended the stretch with a second-chance bucket at 4:52. Five different players contributed to the 13 points.

Once the lead reached 14 late in the first half, Trinity got no closer than the final margin as the gap peaked at 16 points when the Cardinals held a 40-24 lead on a three-pointer by Brian Bartner '16 with 16:15 to go in the game. The Bantams got as close as eight for the first time in the second half with five minutes remaining, 54-46, but no closer.

The day before, Amherst broke a 29-29 on a three-pointer with four minutes to go in the first half and the visiting Lord Jeffs never lost the lead en route to a 75-61 NESCAC and Little Three victory Fri., Jan, 4. It was the opening conference game for each squad.

The go-ahead trey ignited a 10-2 run by the Lord Jeffs into halftime for a 39-31 edge. Wesleyan got no closer in the second half as Amherst assumed a 61-40 advantage with 10:20 remaining. Wesleyan did whittle the difference to 10 with an 11-0 run, triggered by a pair of three-pointers by Callaghan, who now has 1,024 following his team-high 19 points vs. Amherst and 16 vs. Trinity. His free throw (photo) with 17:20 left in the Amherst game gave him his coveted 1,000th point. After Wesleyan got the count to 61-51, Amherst netted the next seven points for a 68-51 lead with 6:25 on the clock. The margin stayed between 14 and 18 points down the stretch.

Amherst shot a blistering 13-for-22 on three pointers, including an astounding 7-for-10 effort from Aaron Toomey, accounting for all but two of his game-high 23 points.

Shasha Brown '13 chipped in with 15 points for Wesleyan with three assists and a pair of steals as well. Callaghan also had a team-leading seven caroms in the contest.

Amherst improved to 10-2 on the season and is ranked 22nd in the latest D3Hoops.com Division III poll.

Wesleyan is back on the court Fri., Jan 11 with the enviable task of visiting Williams, followed by a tri to Middlebury Sat., Jan. 12. Both team's are ranked in the top-25 nationaly, Williams at #23 and Middlebury at #2.